Alternative Treatments for Weight Loss: Safety/Risks and Effectiveness of Anti-Obesity Medicinal Plants |
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| Authors: | Mahnaz Kazemipoor Geoffrey A. Cordell Md. Moklesur Rahman Sarker Che wan Jasimah Bt Wan Mohamed Radzi Majid Hajifaraji Phua En Kiat |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Science &2. Technology Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysiamahnaz.kp@gmail.com;4. Natural Products Inc., Evanston, Illinois, USA;5. Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA;6. Clinical Investigation Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;7. Technology Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;8. National Nutrition &9. Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition &10. Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran |
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| Abstract: | Obesity is emerging globally as a leading, underlying contributor to a variety of different diseases, some of which are fatal. This study aims to provide a brief review of the botanical sources which are available to serve as an alternative to modern, synthetic anti-obesity drugs, and to provide a brief discussion of their mechanism of action, and their safe and effective usage. Information was gathered from books, journals, and a variety of electronic sources published in the period of 1991 to 2014. Medicinal plants can reduce weight through five basic mechanisms: controlling appetite, stimulating thermogenesis and lipid metabolism, inhibiting pancreatic lipase activity, preventing adipogenesis, and promoting lipolysis. Based on a review of the available literature, the consumption of recommended medicinal plants in a single form, and at an optimum dosage, could be a safe and effective complementary treatment for obesity. |
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| Keywords: | Complementary medicine Obesity Medicinal plants Plant metabolites Pharmacotherapy Safety and efficacy |
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